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I had this activity on our to-try list last year, but Massachusetts never got very hot. This summer has been plenty hot, so I thought we’d give it a try. We cut the tops off of some plastic cups, added pieces of crayons, put everything in some left over aluminum foil. We covered it with plastic wrap at the suggestion of my mechanical engineer brother, who happened to be visiting when I decided to try this.
I didn’t try it on the hottest day – temperatures were low nineties, and some of the crayons didn’t melt. I think they were from the cups that wound up partially in the shade, and I think they were also washable and twist-up crayon pieces, which may have affected our results.
We’ll probably try again on a hotter day, but these crayons work well, even in their imperfectly-melted state =)
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Great idea! I’ve been thinking of doing some more sun-powered activities, too.
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Yeah, 113 degree heat index here yesterday and today–we are doing this today! Again, awesome idea from you:-). Thank you!
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These are beautiful! I would frame them as works of art. But I guess they’ll be more useful in creating even more works of art!
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Early Childhood, maryanne. maryanne said: Sun-upcycled crayons http://goo.gl/fb/oBXOp [...]
That’s a great idea. We have tons of crayon pieces, so this would be a fun way to use them.
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This is such a great way to show the power of sun – I wonder if the crayons would melt outside here. Gotta try it when hotter days return, but I am really enjoying cooler days at the moment :)
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As hot as it’s been here, I do believe I’m going to try this. Have to get some dixie cups, but have everything else. Thanks for sharing, awesome!
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I just saw a melted crayon in the parking lot at our local grocery store, and thought “Hmmm … fodder for a project?” and then forgot all about it! Thanks for the reminder!
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Looks fun. Also love the googly eyes idea x
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I keep meaning to do this, but haven’t followed through yet. Now I know I can do it outside.
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I’ve done this in the oven in a muffin tin but never outside in the sun. Thanks for a great idea.
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very cool idea :) we’ve done them in the oven before but this would be so much fun w/ the kids! thanks for the awesome idea!
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My kids really enjoyed being able to fully participate this way, and if it gets hot enough it isn’t even that much slower than the oven =)
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I have never thought of trying this outside. We definitely have the heat here to try it out! Thanks for the great idea.
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Cool process!
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This is such a great idea! I wonder if using an old muffin tin would help — the metal might store the heat more efficiently!
I’d love to post a link to this idea on my blog with your permission — I’ll send you an e-mail!
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@Dee – I agree that an old muffin tin would work better. We didn’t have one and so substituted the cups.
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[...] I love crafts with children and love them even more if they are easy and frugal. This post by MaryAnne at Mama Smiles fits every requirement: Sun-upcycled Crayons [...]
what a great idea! Better than using a mold in the oven!
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[...] I saw an awesome idea for homemade crayons on my friend Mary Anne’s blog I KNEW I had to make them for Jack! The kids helped get some of our old crayons ready by peeling [...]
Greetings, all very nice idea…….interesting. Jack
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Kristie Reply:
June 13th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I live in Alabama and it’s really hot here. I put mine in the car! They should be done in about 10 minutes…
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maryanne Reply:
June 13th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
You have the perfect climate for crayon melting! One of my brothers baked cookies on his car’s dashboard one summer in Texas…
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Kristie Reply:
June 13th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
It worked!
maryanne Reply:
June 13th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Fantastic!
I absolutely LOVE this! I already shared with the moms at my parenting page Family Made Simple. http://www.facebook.com/familymadesimple. I’m in nearby Rhode Island and will have to wait for a hot day to do this with my 4 year old! thanks so much! Tessa
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maryanne Reply:
June 13th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
It’s so fun to see the power of the sun in action! I’m glad you love the idea, and thank you so much for sharing this post on your parenting page!
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Wow! I’ve made these in the oven, but wouldn’t have thought to use the sun! I love it!
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maryanne Reply:
June 23rd, 2012 at 11:18 pm
It’s definitely my favorite version! On the dashboard of a car is even faster :)
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That will be perfect here in Kansas this week… We’ll be in the triple digits again today. :/
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maryanne Reply:
July 15th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Sounds like perfect weather for this activity! Good luck staying cool…
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Thinking it would work in the hot car out in the sun. Just don’t forget about them! Something to try out soon.
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maryanne Reply:
July 28th, 2012 at 6:26 am
It’ll work much more quickly in the hot car!
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[...] Mama Smiles and Hands On: As We Grow created party favor crayons using muffin tins. Those crayons almost look [...]
[...] throw away those broken bits of crayons! Save them to make sun-upcycled crayons, by melting them into new crayons. You can also make these in the oven, but chances are you [...]
[...] 15, 2013 by Mama smiles Leave a [...]
A great idea but I don’t think it’ll ever get hot enough here in the UK! :-(
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MaryAnne Reply:
May 21st, 2013 at 7:46 am
I think it was around 33C when we did this. Maybe you’ll get that warm one day? I was surprised we got it to work with it only being that hot.
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[...] Upcycle old broken crayons in this simple solar oven from Mama Smiles. [...]